Career Choice and Computer Engineering

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Write a 1,750- to 2,100-word research project detailing one of the following career choice:
o Computer engineer (software or hardware)
Your research should provide insight into this career field for a population of high school
seniors. Your research will potentially be published in an online careers magazine.
Ensure your research includes the following elements:
o A short proposal that includes:
• What you are proposing to write about
• Your background and how it has led you to pursue this type of career
• The specific elements of the career you will focus on in your final project (This
may include salary, job requirements, physical labor, and other characteristics of
the job.)
• The benefits of having this job
• Anything you hope to learn more about through your research
o A graphic (such as an image, a diagram, or a screen shot)
o A short summary of how you would present the information if you could give a
presentation to a live audience (keep in mind your audience's age)
o At least three outside sources, including a Web site, a journal, and a magazine or
newspaper (cited properly in APA format)
o A set of instructions of the steps to take to get into the career
o Good use of design, white space, and other visual elements

Running Head: COMPUTER ENGINEER

Computer Engineer Career
Student Name
Student School

Abstract
This paper discusses the career of Computer Engineers (CE); it reflects my background and how I was led to this pursuit. The career details referenced include salary, job requirements, physical labor, and other characteristics and benefits of the job. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov, 2007), "Computer software engineers are one of the occupations projected to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the 2006-16 decade. There are excellent job prospects for applicants with at least bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science and with practical work experience..." These reasons and more will be included in this text for why a CE career is most appealing to me.

Computer Engineer Career
My Background
My background has been in the field of...
My interests in computer engineering were partially financial and in combination with my personal history. According to CNN Money, Computer Engineering is one of the Top 10 fastest-growing fields, and this was also another motivating factor in my decision. There are many benefits to having this job, including financial freedom and creativity. I am anticipating learning more about these benefits via this research

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Computer software engineers apply the principles of computer science and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that make computers work. The tasks performed by these workers evolve quickly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers. Systems software engineers also work for companies that configure, implement, and install the computer systems of other organizations. These workers may be members of the marketing or sales staff, serving as the primary technical resource for sales workers. They also may help with sales and provide customers with technical support. Since the selling of complex computer systems often requires substantial customization to meet the needs of the purchaser, software engineers help to identify and explain needed changes. In addition, systems software engineers are responsible for ensuring security across the systems they are configuring. Computer software engineers often work as part of a team that designs new hardware, software, and systems. A core team may comprise engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and design people, who work together to release a product.

Work environment
Computer software engineers normally work in clean, comfortable offices or in laboratories in which computer equipment is located. Software engineers who work for software vendors and consulting firms frequently travel overnight to meet with customers. Telecommuting is also becoming more common, allowing workers to do their jobs from remote locations. Most software engineers work at least 40 hours a week, but about 17 percent work more than 50 hours a week. Software engineers also may have to work evenings or weekends to meet deadlines or solve unexpected technical problems. Like other workers who spend long hours typing at a computer, software engineers are susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand and wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Job Outlook
Job prospects should be excellent, as computer software engineers are expected to be among the fastest-growing occupations through the year 2016. Employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent over the 2006 to 2016 period, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation will generate about 324,000 new jobs, over the projections decade, one of the largest employment increases of any occupation.
Employment growth will result as businesses and other organizations adopt and integrate new technologies and seek to maximize the efficiency of their computer systems. Competition among businesses will continue to create incentive for sophisticated technological innovations, and organizations will need more computer software engineers to implement these changes.
Demand for computer software engineers will also increase as computer networking continues to grow. For example, expanding Internet technologies have spurred demand for computer software engineers who can develop Internet, intranet, and World Wide Web applications. Likewise, electronic data-processing systems in business, telecommunications, government, and other settings continue to become more sophisticated and complex. Implementing, safeguarding, and ...